AP - The National Statistics Institute says Spain's unemployment figures has surpassed the 5 million mark, with the jobless rate shooting up from 21.5 percent to 22.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

The institute said Friday 5.3 million people were out of work at the end of December, up from 4.9 million in the third quarter.

The figure was lower than the 5.4 million estimated by the finance minister Thursday.

BRUSSELS - The European Commission and 22 EU member states have signed up to a controversial trade agreement in a move marked by cyber attacks and street protests.

Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia were the only EU countries not to put pen to paper at the signing ceremony in Tokyo on Thursday (26 January) of the so-called Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta).

The European Commission told EUobserver the hold-up is "purely procedural" and that they will come on board shortly.

The international treaty was created in behind-closed-doors talks between EU countries and select other World Trade Organisation members over the past five years to enforce intellectual property rights on both digital and physical products.

Costa Crociere SpA has offered passengers €11,000 apiece to compensate them for their lost baggage and psychological trauma after its cruise ship ran aground and capsized off Tuscany when the captain deviated from his route.

FT - Call for EU to control Greek budget

provocative lede - Berlin wants eurozone to take Athens' reins  

keep to the Fen Causeway